Continuously operable underground mining vehicle

ABSTRACT

An underground mining vehicle that includes both tunnel roof supporting and rock cutting apparatus is illustrated herein. Hydraulic jacks are mounted on the main frame of the vehicle to rapidly provide temporary support for the roof of a tunnel over the vehicle. Apparatus for driving support bolts into the roof of the tunnel is disposed between the jacks to provide permanent support for the area over the main frame of the vehicle. A water jet nozzle is movably mounted in front of the vehicle main frame so that roof bolting and mining may be performed simultaneously. A shroud extends toward the tunnel walls and encloses the jet nozzle so that dust, methane, water vapor, and other gases produced during mining are isolated from the vehicle operator and the rest of the tunnel.

United States Patent [1 1 Rogne, Jr. et al."

CONTINUOUSLY OPERAIILE UNDERGROUND MINING VEHICLE Inventors: Conrad 0. Rogue, Jr.; Robert A.

Grant, both of Ann Arbor, Mich.

Assignee: The Bendix Corporation, Southfleld,

Mich.

Filed: Oct. 2, 1972 Appl. No.: 294,424

US. Cl 299/33, 299]! l, 299/12,

299/17 Int. Cl. E2lc 29/02, E2-1c 35/22 Field of Search 299/1], l2, 18, 33, I7

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1920 1 Hodgson 299/12 X 9/l959 Newton 299/59 X 2/l972 White 299/12 X 3/l972 Kacmarcy 299/11 HIM-- G /4 1 m H 3 Q '3 MILO-{32g May 28, 1974 Primary Examiner-Ernest R. Purser Attorney, Agent, or Firm.lohn S. Bell [5 7 ABSTRACT An underground mining vehicle that includes both tunnel roof supporting and rock cutting apparatus is illustrated herein. Hydraulic jacks are mounted on the main frame of the vehicle to rapidly provide temporary support for thereof of a tunnel over the vehicle. Apparatus for driving support bolts into the roof of the tunnel is disposed between the jacks to provide permanent support for the area over the main frame of the vehicle. A water jet nozzle is movably mounted in front of the .vehicle main frame so that roof bolting and mining may be performed simultaneously. A shroud extends toward the tunnel walls and encloses the jet nozzle so that dust, methane, water vapor, and

other gases produced during mining are isolated from the vehicleoperator and the rest of the tunnel.

- 9 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAY 2 1914 3813' 126 mm 1 or 2 v 4. QM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Underground mining equipment.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art I For safety, the roof or ceiling of any section of a mine tunnel must be supported before a man can work in that section. Also, while not as critical as providing protection for a man, it is desirable to have the tunnel roof supported over as much of the mining equipment as possible in order to minimize the risk of equipment loss or damage. Beams which extend from the floor of a mine tunnel to the roof or ceiling are sometimes used to provide permanent support. More often, permanent roof support is provided by drilling holes into the roof of the tunnel and then driving bolts into the drilled holes. The bolts carry slotted nuts which expand to hold the bolts in the tunnel roof. Thus held, they compress layers of rock above the mine tunnel to strengthenthose layers to thereby provide permanent support for the tunnel roof.

Presently, mining vehicles that carry rock cutting equipment do notcarry apparatus for supporting the roof of the tunnel. Vehicles carrying mining equipment must, therefore, constantly interchangewith vehicles carrying roof supporting equipment at the end wall or face of a tunnel where rock is being mined. In addition, dust, methane, and other gasesare produced as rock is cut away from a wall of a tunnel. Special ventilation apparatus must be positioned proximate the face to be cut away to protect workers. This face ventilation apparatus must also often be .moved to faciliate the interchange of mining and roof bolting equipment. In a complete mining cycle, ventilation apparatus is first appropriately positioned, and rock is then cut away from the end of a tunnel until the operator is exposed to an unsupported roof. At that time the mining machine, and if necessary some of the ventilation equipment is removed and a vehicle carrying roof bolting apparatus is moved up to secure the roof of the newly cut-away portion of the tunnel. This interchanging of equipment limits the efficiency of an underground mining' operation. Substantial time is lost even in the most ideal situation in which the vehicles can beinterchanged between adjacent tunnels so that rock can be cut from one tunnel while the roof is being bolted in the adjacent tunnel. The National Coal Association estimates that only about one-quarter of a mining cycle is spent in cutting and transportingrock from the walls of a tunnel. The rest of the time is spent setting up and moving equipment, supporting the roof of a tunnel, and so forth. H

- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention comprises a' mining vehicle capable of 2. nel roof support providing apparatus at the face of the tunnel. A large quantity of material can be mined with the vehicle of this invention because roof supporting and mining operations can be performed simultanteously. Rock cutting apparatus extends forward from the main frame of the vehicle. And, conveying apparatus such as a chain conveyor or a slurry is built into the vehicle to transport newly cut rock to conventional hauling equipment such as shuttle cars or a separate conveyor belt. Apparatus such as support jacks is mounted on the main frame of the vehicle to quickly provide temporary support for the tunnel roof as the main frame is moved forward into a newly cut away area of the tunnel. The vehicle is operated from a control console located behind the front most of the jacks. The jacks thus protect both the main frame of the vehicle and the operator. The vehicle also carries apparatus such as roof bolting apparatus for permanently supporting the portion of the mine roof over the main frame of the vehicle so that the portion of the tunnel behind the vehicle will be permanently supported as it is moved forward during mining. The mining vehicle also carries an inflatable shroud that encircles the rock cutting apparatus and expands when inflated to trap the gases produced during cutting. The trapped gases are pumped from the shroud through a conduit to an exhaust port and, therefore, do not contaminate the air in the mine tunnel. The mining vehicle thus provides miners with effective protection from both cave-ins and lung damage and other dangers of a contaminated, dust laden atmosphere.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONIOF THE DRAWINGS Further objects, features and advantages of this invention, which is defined by the appended claims, will become apparent from'a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a schematic, partially cutaway, side view of an underground mining vehicle having both rock cutting and mine'tunnel roof supporting apparatus; and

' FIG. 2 is a schematic, top view of the mining vehicle of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an underground mining vehicle 10 that includes a main frame 12 mounted on wheels 14 so that the vehicle can move through a mine tunnel 16. Mining apparatus 17 for mining material from a wall such as end wall or face 18 of tunnel 16 extends forward from the main frame 12 of the vehicle. This apparatus includes a hose 20 for supplying water to a jet nozzle 22.,Hose 20 and nozzle 22 ride on a boom24 that has two joints 26 and 28 so that the D02- zle can be moved to different heights and held at any desired angle with respect to tunnel wall 18. Boom 24 is mounted on a turret 30 so that the nozzle 22 can also be swept laterally across the tunnel wall. A ramp 32 underlies jet nozzle 22. Asis best seen from FIG. 2, rotatable gathering arms 34 are mounted on this ramp to push material cut from wall 18 up the ramp toward a chain conveyor 36 which conveys rock toward the rear of vehicle 10 to conventional material hauling equipment. The mining apparatus 17 is connected to the mainframe 12 of the vehicle by hydraulic extension cylinders 38 so that the mining equipment can be moved forward to cut away wall 18 while the main frame 12 is held in a fixed position. Extension cylinders 38 connect with hinges 39 so that mining apparatus 17 can be swept from side to side and cut a tunnel 16 substantially wider than vehicle by alternately extending one cylinder 38 further forward than the other. A shroud 40 formed from a flexible material 41 such as plastic or canvas is attached to the frame 12 of vehicle 10 and held forward by support arms 42. An inflatable ring 43 forms the front of shroud 40. When inflated, ring 43 pushes canvas 41 outward toward the sides of tunnel 16 to isolate gases produced as rock is cut from tunnel wall 18. Support arms 42 do not extend all the way to inflated ring 43 and thus define a frame that is smaller than the fully inflated shroud 40. The size of the shroud can therefore be reduced to facilitate movement of vehicle 10 by deflating ring 43. Conveyor 36 runs through a conduit 44 formed in the vehicle 10. Gases trapped by shroud 40 are pumped through this conduit by a pump 45 to an exhaust port (not shown) so that the gases can be removed without contaminating air in the tunnel. A window 46 is sewn into canvas 41 so that an operator can observe operation of mining apparatus 17.

Four hydraulic jacks 47 are mounted on the main frame 12 of the vehicle 10 to provide temporary support for the portion of tunnel roof 48 over the vehicle. The vehicle 10 is controlled by an operator from a control console 49 located behind the frontmost of the roof supporting jacks 47. The jacks thus protect both the main frame of the vehicle 10 and its operator. In order to permanently secure or support mine roof 48, four rotary drive units 50 are also mounted on the main frame 12 to drill holes and drive conventional roof supporting bolts into roof 48 of mine tunnel 16.

In operation, water is directed from nozzle 22 to cut material from wall 18 of tunnel 16. This material is transported by gathering arms 34 and chain conveyor 36 to conventional hauling equipment (not shown) behind vehicle 10. Methane gas and dust are released from tunnel wall 18 and are introduced into the atmosphere during cutting, and water from jet nozzle 22 forms water vapor. Shroud 40 protects the vehicle operator and miners in other portions of the tunnel from these gases. The gases are trapped by shroud 40 and pumped from the tunnel through conduit 44. Shroud 40 extends toward, but does not contact the sides of vehicle 10. Pump 45 pumps gases through conduit 44 at a sufficiently fast rate to draw fresh air through tunnel 16 and around the sides of shroud 40 into conduit 44. Good ventilation of tunnel 16 insuring fresh air for personnel in the vicinity of vehicle 10 is provided by an air flow toward face 18 of one foot/second or more. After a predetermined portion of wall 22 has been cut away, shroud 40 can be quickly deflated and vehicle 10 moved forward. The roof of the newly cut portion of tunnel 16 into which vehicle 10 is moved is not supported. Hydraulic jacks 47 are, therefore, raised to push against and support that roof. The jacks protect both the main frame 12 of the vehicle and its operator. Temporary support for roof 48 over main frame 12 is provided very rapidly because the jacks 47 need be lowered only a small distance away from roof 48 when vehicle 10 is moved forward into a new area of tunnel 16.

When supporting jacks 47 are raised, main frame 12 of vehicle 10 is held firmly in a fixed position. However,

once the roof over vehicle main frame 12 is temporarily supported, both mining and roof supporting operations can be performed simultaneously. Hydraulic extension cylinders 38 can move mining equipment 17 forward to cut away new layers from tunnel end wall 22 even though main frame 12 is not moved. At the same time, permanent support is provided for roof 48 by mounting drill bits on rotary drive units 50. The bolts have slotted nuts on their ends which expand to hold the bolts in the tunnel roof, and provide permanent support by compressing layers of rock above the tunnel.

Since vehicle 10 can simultaneously perform both roof supporting and mining operations in the same tunnel, a large quantity of rock can be mined in a very short time. in addition, miners are protected from caveins and from the dangers of a contaminated atmosphere.

Having thus described one embodiment of this invention, a number of modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, what is claimed is:

1. A mining vehicle for mining rock in an underground tunnel and for simultaneously providing support for the roof of the tunnel comprising:

a main frame adapted to move through an underground mining tunnel;

rock cutting means extending forward from said main frame for cutting material from a wall of the tunnel;

means for moving said rock cutting means forward from said main frame; transporting means for conveying the cut material to a predetermined position with respect to said main frame;

means engaging the roof and floor of the tunnel for maintaining said mainframe in a fixed position and for providing temporary support for the roof of the tunnel over said main frame; and

means for providing permanentsupport for said roof while said main frame is maintained in said fixed position andsaid rock cutting means is cutting material from said tunnel wall, thereby enabling said mining vehicle to proceed along a previously unsupported path eliminating the need to continuously interchange mining apparatus and roof support providing apparatus at the surface of the tunnel being cut away.

2. The mining vehicle of claim 1 in which said rock cutting means includes means for cutting the rock with a jet of water.

3. The mining vehicle of claim 1 further including means for ventilating the tunnel in the vicinity of the vehicle and for isolating the operating personnel from all dust, methane and other gases produced by the cutting, comprising:

a shroud for isolating all dust, methane and other gases produced during cutting from personnel operating the vehicle and from the rest of the tunnel;

a conduit for exhausting said dust, methane and other gases from the area isolated by said shroud to a predetermined position; and

pump means for pumping said dust, methane and other gases from the area isolated by said shroud into said conduit, said pump having sufficient capacity to draw fresh air through said tunnel, around said shroud and into said conduit insuring fresh air for personnel in the vicinity of the vehicle.

4. The mining vehicle of claim 3 in which said rock cutting means include means for cutting the rock with a jet of water.

5. The mining vehicle of claim 2 in which said shroud comprises:

a flexible membrane;

bracket means for supporting at least a portion of said flexible membrane; and

inflatable tube means connected to said flexible membrane for pushing said membrane out beyond said bracket means to cover a large area and insure capture of said dust, methane, and other gases produced during cutting, deflation of said tube means reducing the size of the shroud to facilitate movement of the vehicle.

6. The mining vehicle of claim 3 in vwhich:

said shroud is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the tunnel.

7. The mining vehicle of claim 4 in which said transporting means conveysthe cut material through at least 9. The mining vehicle of claim 6 in which:

said means for maintaining said main frame in a fixed position and temporary support providing. means comprise hydraulic jacks mounted on said main frame; and

said means for providing permanent support comprise means for driving supporting bolts into the roof of the tunnel. 

1. A mining vehicle for mining rock in an underground tunnel and for simultaneously providing support for the roof of the tunnel comprising: a main frame adapted to move through an underground mining tunnel; rock cutting means extending forward from said main frame for cutting material from a wall of the tunnel; means for moving said rock cutting means forward from said main frame; transporting means for conveying the cut material to a predetermined position with respect to said main frame; means engaging the roof and floor of the tunnel for maintaining said main frame in a fixed position and for providing temporary support for the roof of the tunnel over said main frame; and means for providing permanent support for said roof while said main frame is maintained in said fixed position and said rock cutting means is cutting material from said tunnel wall, thereby enabling said mining vehicle to proceed along a previously unsupported path eliminating the need to continuously interchange mining apparatus and roof support providing apparatus at the surface of the tunnel being cut away.
 2. The mining vehicle of claim 1 in which said rock cutting means includes means for cutting the rock with a jet of water.
 3. The mining vehicle of claim 1 further including means for ventilating the tunnel in the vicinity of the vehicle and for isolating the operating personnel from all dust, methane and other gases produced by the cutting, comprising: a shroud for isolating all dust, methane and other gases produced during cutting from personnel operating the vehicle and from the rest of the tunnel; a conduit for exhausting said dust, methane and other gases from the area isolated by said shroud to a predetermined position; and pump means for pumping said dust, methane and other gases from the area isolated by said shroud into said conduit, said pump having sufficient capacity to draw fresh air through said tunnel, around said shroud and into said conduit insuring fresh air for personnel in the vicinity of the vehicle.
 4. The mining vehicle of claim 3 in which said rock cutting means include means for cutting the rock with a jet of water.
 5. The mining vehicle of claim 2 in which said shroud comprises: a flexible membrane; bracket means for supporting at least a portion of said flexible membrane; and inflatable tube means connected to said flexible membrane for pushing said membrane out beyond said bracket means to cover a large area and insure capture of said dust, methane, and other gases produced during cutting, deflation of said tube means reducing the size of the shroud to facilitate movement of the vehicle.
 6. The mining vehicle of claim 3 in which: said shroud is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the tunnel.
 7. The mining vehicle of claim 4 in which said transporting means conveys the cut material through at least a portion of said exhaust conduit.
 8. The mining vehicle of claim 1 in which: said permanent support providing means is disposed on said main frame rearwardly from the front most portion of said temporary support providing means; and a control console for an operator is also disposed on said main frame rearwardly from the front most portion of said temporary support providing means, said temporary support providing means thereby protecting said permanent support providing means, said control console, and the operator.
 9. The mining vehicle of claim 6 in which: said means for maintaining said main frame in a fixed position and temporary support providing means comprise hydraulic jacks mounted on said main frame; anD said means for providing permanent support comprise means for driving supporting bolts into the roof of the tunnel. 